Lewis Hamilton won Sunday's Russian Grand Prix to take a massive lead in the world championship after arch rival and Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg retired.

Rosberg lined up on pole but limped out of the race when his car developed a fatal throttle problem in the early stages.

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That left Hamilton to coast to victory and set fair for a successful defence of his driver's crown with only four races of the season remaining.

Ferrari's  finished second with Sergio Perez in a Force India completing the podium in Sochi.

This ninth win of 2015 moved Hamilton up to 302 points in the drivers standings with Vettel overtaking Rosberg, the former four-time champion now placed second on 236 points, with Rosberg on 229.

Hamilton can clinch the title in the United States Grand Prix on October 25 if the cards fall in his favour in Texas.